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Friday, August 22, 2025
TopicBeyond the Reel

Topic: Beyond the Reel

Why’s Bollywood obsessed with Vijay Mallya? Neeyat, Crew tap into a lingering fantasy

Crew trains its guns on Mallya from the get-go – showcasing his famous ‘gift packs’ and ‘welcome videos’, and dressing its on-screen stewardesses in Kingfisher-like red uniforms.

Barbie movie disappoints just like the doll. Needs radical makeover, not trendy updates

Over the decades, Barbie has tried to convince us she's changing. But tweaking isn't transforming. Greta Gerwig's movie is one more modification, not a radical 21st century makeover.

Adipurush controversy shows there’s no pleasing Hindu groups. They want 100% compliance

From lashing out at Om Raut for kissing Kriti Sanon on the cheek to targetting ‘anti-Hindu’ Saif Ali Khan, the criticisms surrounding Adipurush are rooted in sexism and Islamophobia.

20 years of Chalte Chalte—when SRK didn’t play the king of romance

Chalte Chalte’s Raj seems to be an obvious precursor to men who stalk and abuse their partners, like in Kabir Singh and the atrocities Luv Ranjan calls films.

Look out for the women in Rocket Boys — Mrinalini Sarabhai, Pipsy show grit and grace

In the very first episode of the new season, Mrinalini Sarabhai shuts down a journalist more curious about her absence from Vikram’s rocket launch than her dance academy.

Bollywood romances are dead. This generation doesn’t have its own Raj, Rahul or Simran

The past 5 years have not seen any full-blown romances, at least no memorable ones. Love has been relegated to a subplot.

Bhediya to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, ‘horror-comedy’ built a loyal fanbase in 2022

Indian horror films have come a long way from the Ramsay brothers and Vikram Bhatt era of the 1980s and early 2000s.

Chitchor to Hum Aapke Hain Koun—Rajshri films echoed India’s nostalgia for perfect sanskari era

In an era when watching Titanic with parents was a shared trauma for millenials, Rajshri films were ‘clean’ and you could safely watch them with no hesitation.

Brahmastra to Liger—Love in Bollywood is an overused ‘button’. Go back to Piku era

Bollywood is slacking on good love stories. Despite more than 70 releases in 2022, none were acclaimed as great romances.

Are doctors divided by gender? Male gynaecologists agree with Doctor G’s Ayushmann Khurrana

Not only are families disturbed when women members consult male specialists, there have been several instances where their mere presence has caused a ruckus.

On Camera

Tariffs, chips, and China — how Trump’s trade playbook affects India

Trump’s OBBB is framed to augment domestic semiconductor production and enhance trade protection, even at the expense of certain social programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans, as well as a projected ballooning federal deficit from US$2.8 to 3.3 trillion

New insolvency frameworks to shorter timelines, how 2025 amendment bill proposes to transform IBC

New bill aims to fix key issues with IBC 2016, including delays & patchy implementation, and protect creditors, with window for genuine promoters to retain control of their companies.

Indian firm joins hands with US manufacturer to locally develop all-terrain vehicles for armed forces

Under joint venture, JSW Sarbloh Motors will indigenise and manufacture TX range ATVs in Chandigarh. The first India-assembled unit is expected by early 2026.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?